The last thing Sherri Nolan wants for any of her special education students is for them to feel like the “other” – the outsider who doesn’t fit in at school, who is teased or in any way made to feel less “normal” than everybody else…
“I live on my own and I love it because I can do whatever I want, even though I do my own chores. I love doing my own chores at my own house…”
“I’m glad I met Aleah through Best Buddies because she hangs out with me. She makes the time for me even after graduating from Rio Rancho High School, going to college and working…”
My name is Mikoyan Salganek, but my friends call me Mik. I am a Buddy, a Jobs participant, and an Ambassador for Best Buddies in New Mexico.Before Best Buddies, I was lonely and I did not have many friends. My mom had to fight for me.
My name is Garrett Duke. During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I was involved in the friendship program of Best Buddies. I thought it was a good program.
When sophomore Brianna Mathis was asked by her friend and Chapter President Christopher to join Best Buddies she knew it was something in which she wanted to be involved. “I wanted to join Best Buddies from the minute I heard about it. My brother, Alex, has a physical disability and […]
School Friendship Participant Courtney Kaltenbach shares her story as a member of Best Buddies and friend of Joe
My name is Garrett Duke. During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I was involved in the friendship program of Best Buddies. I thought it was a good program. After I graduated high school in 2014, I enrolled in APS Transition Services. I worked a lot on resumes, interviewing and I did some volunteer work at a community center, but I did not have much success finding a job.
The Spirit of Inclusion Awards program recognizes community members who make significant contributions to further the inclusive spirit that drives Best Buddies. The awards are based on the three pillars of the Best Buddies mission; one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The 28th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference was held at beautiful Indiana University in Bloomington, IN in July of this year. More than 2300 leaders from around the world came together to Bloomington, Indiana to learn, share, and be inspired.
Best Buddies Month is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life.
Do you know any transition-aged students who are preparing to enter the workforce? Then please help us spread the word about Project SEARCH, an innovative school-to-work internship program that gives young adults with disabilities, ages 18-21, the opportunity to learn marketable job skills to help them gain employment.
On November 29, 2016, nearly three hundred people came together at the Albuquerque Marriott for the first ever Big Bright Breakfast.
Supporters old and new were entertained by the incomparable local meteorologist Steve Stucker, heard inspiring stories from keynote speaker actress Lauren Potter, and learned the impact of Best Buddies…
John Baker Elementary School, New Mexico’s first Elementary Promoter’s Chapter, started off the 2016/2017 school year in ship-shape fashion!
Incredible things are happening in the Best Buddies New Mexico Jobs Programs. Take a look at all of the inclusive success the Project Search Embassy Suites team has achieved so far in the October Newsletter. To think – this is only the beginning! Congratulations to all of the participants, and to the incomparable Alex Rios for her leadership.
July 2016 was filled with new faces and amazing opportunities. Amanda Munk joined the Best Buddies team as the Program Manager for Friendship Programs, and chapter leaders and Ambassadors from New Mexico traveled to the beautiful Indiana University Campus in Bloomington, IN for the 27th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference.
Thanks to a collaborative partnership between Best Buddies New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools, University of New Mexico Hospital, and others partners we are bringing Project Search to New Mexico! Project Search is a nationally recognized, business-driven, transitional employment program. We are working to create great jobs for person with IDD […]
The friendship between Reagan and his peer buddy Wes is a great representation of the value of our one-to-one friendship mission and its positive impact on our volunteer’s lives. Prior to joining Best Buddies, Reagan mostly kept to himself and rarely talked to anyone at school while Wes focused on […]
Bradley is an excellent example of the Best Buddies Jobs mission in action and a shining example of successful integrated employment. During his Project SEARCH internship in the sterile processing department at the University of New Mexico Hospital, Bradley learned and mastered a wide variety of tasks with the support […]
Teresa is the Best Buddies chapter vice president and a junior at Eldorado High School. She is a great example of a Best Buddies volunteer engaged in leadership development activities as part of our mission. Teresa has been a leader her entire life. She takes advantage of opportunities to organize […]